Neb-u-pack

ABSTRACT

This patent describes a novel combination comprising a medicament injector comprising: a cylindrical vial having an open end and a closed end, a resilient plug adapted to be inserted at least partially through said open end of said vial; a plurality of outwardly extending rings upon said plug engaging the walls of said vial with a press fit; a cylindrical member having one closed end, said cylindrical member holding a needle extending inwardly into said cylindrical member and having a sharpened inner end; and said cylindrical member having a tip extending outwardly therefrom, said tip being an elongated member of generally circular cross-section and having a central fluid passage extending substantially the length of the tip, said tip having three zones, the first of which is cylindrical, the second or intermediate which is tapered, and the third or outlet zone which is cylindrical but of smaller external diameter than said first zone, interlocking means on said cylindrical member and cooperating interlocking means on said plug, whereby upon interlocking of said plug with said cylindrical member said vial is first held in an assembled but non-operating position and upon further interlocking of said plug with said cylindrical member, said plug is adapted to be pierced by said needle and said needle communicated with said vial without the application of substantial axial pressure on said plug and said plug is locked securely to said cylindrical member to permit aspiration upon withdrawal of said vial or to permit expulsion of the contents of said vial upon exertion of pressure on said vial through said tip; and a nebulizer comprising an air inlet, an air outlet adapted to lead to the patient, means for forcing air through said nebulizer, means within said nebulizer for evaporating and forming particles of liquid medicament for inhalation therapy in the air stream passing through said nebulizer, and a medication introduction port opening into the interior of said nebulizer above the liquid medication level within said nebulizer, said tip being at least partially received in said port whereby liquid medication can be introduced into said nebulizer by the exertion of pressure on said vial.

llite taes @gle atent 11 1 1 1 NEB-lU-PACK [75] Inventor: Robert Walter Ogle, Newport Beach, Calif.

[73] Assignee: IMS Limited, El Monte, Calif.

[22] Filed: Dec. 11, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 314,030

[52] US. Cl 128/194,-l28/239, 141/350 [51] Int. Cl A61m 15/00 [58] Field of Search..... 128/194, 220, 193, 349 BV,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,554,451 5/1951 Barry 128/220 2,574,028 11/1951 Fields 141/329 3,172,406 3/1965 Bird et al 128/194 3,203,455 8/1965 Horabin 141/329 3,378,008 4/1968 Ogle 1 128/220 3,486,539 12/1969 Jacuzzi 14l/329 3,516,407 6/1970 128/349 BV 3,563,240 2/1971 128/234 3,577,992 5/1971 128/349 BV 3,630,196 12/1971 128/194 3,729,031 4/1973 Baldwin 141/350 X Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-Lee S. Cohen Attorney, Agent, or Firm-loseph E. Mueth [57] ABSTRACT This patentdescribes a novel combination comprising a medicament injector comprising: a cylindrical vial having an open end and a closed end, a resilient plug adapted to be inserted at least partially through said open end of said vial; a plurality of outwardly extending rings upon said plug engaging the walls of said vial with a press fit; a cylindrical member having one closed end, said cylindrical member holding a needle extending inwardly into said cylindrical member and having a sharpened inner end; and said cylindrical member having a tip extending outwardly therefrom, said tip being an elongated member of generally circular cross-section and having a central fluid passage extending substantially the length of the tip, said tip having three zones, the first of which is cylindrical, the second or intermediate which is tapered, and the third or outlet zone which is cylindrical but of smaller external diameter than said first zone, interlocking means on said cylindrical member and cooperating interlocking means on said plug, whereby upon interlocking of said plug with said cylindrical member said vial is first held in an assembled but non-operating position and upon further interlocking of said plug with said cylindrical member, said plug is adapted to be pierced by said needle and said needle communicated with said vial without the application of substantial axial pressure on said plug and said plug is locked securely to said cylindrical member to permit aspiration upon withdrawal of said vial or to permit expulsion of the contents of said vial upon exertion of pressure on said vial through said tip; and a nebulizer comprising an air inlet, an air outlet adapted to lead to the patient, means for forcing air through said nebulizer, means within said nebulizer for evaporating and forming particles of liquid medicament for inhalation therapy in the air stream passing through said nebulizer, and a medication introduction port opening into the interior of said nebulizer above the liquid medication level within said nebulizer, said tip being at least partially received in said port whereby liquid medication can be introduced into said nebulizer by the exertion of pressure on said vial.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PAIENIE 0212mm Fle. 1

NEB-U-PACK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with an apparatus which is useful in inhalation therapy. The increase in lung and respiratory diseases has resulted in greater use of nebulizers for the treatment of such diseases. Medication must be added to nebulizers continuously or at intervals. The present invention is primarily concerned with those medications which are added to a nebulizer at periodic or irregular intervals. At present, such medication is usually added with an ordinary syringe which is loosely received in the addition port of the nebulizer. This loose connection allows contaminated ambient hospital air to be drawn or sucked through the port and nebulizer into the patients respiratory system. This practice is highly undesirable and can lead to serious infections and complications of the lungs and respiratory system. At present, this contamination can be prevented only by shutting down or disconnecting the nebulizer during the addition of medication. This procedure is inconvenient, and requires supervision of nursing personnel to assure that the practice is followed. The present invention overcomes these problems by providing a connection between the source of the additive medication and the nebulizer part which does not permit contaminated air to enter the nebulizer. It is accordingly anticipated that this invention will be widely adopted in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention is a novel combination comprising a medicament injector comprising: a cylindrical vial having an open end and a closed end, a resilient plug adapted to be inserted at least partially through said open end of said vial; a plurality of outwardly extending rings upon said plug engaging the walls of said vialwith a press fit; a cylindrical member having one closed end, said cylindrical member holding a needle extending inwardly into said cylindrical member and having a sharpened inner end; and said cylindrical member having a tip extending outwardly therefrom, said tip being an elongated member of generally circular cross-section and having a central fluid passage extending substantially the length of the tip, said tip having three zones, the first of which is cylindrical, the second or intermediate which is tapered, and the third or outlet zone which is cylindrical but of smaller external diameter than said first zone, interlocking means on said cylindrical member and cooperating interlocking means on said plug, whereby upon interlocking of said plug with said cylindrical member said vial is first held in an assembled but non-operating position and upon further interlocking of said plug with said cylindrical member, said plug is adapted to be pierced by said needle and said needle communicated with said vial without the application of substantial axial pressure on said plug and said plug is locked securely to said cylindrical member to permit aspiration upon withdrawal of said vial or to permit expulsion of the contents of said vial upon exertion of pressure on said vial through said tip; and a nebulizer comprising an air inlet, an air outlet adapted to lead to the patient, means for forcing air through said nebulizer, means within said nebulizer for evaporating and forming particles of liquid medicament for inhalation therapy in the air stream passing through said nebulizer, and a medication introduction port opening into the interior of said nebulizer above the liquid medication level within said nebulizer, said tip being at least partially received in said port whereby liquid medication can be introduced into said nebulizer by the exertion of, pressure on, said vial.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel system for use in inhalation therapy.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide for the safer introduction of additive medication to nebulizers.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system in which contaminated hospital air cannot enter the nebulizer during the addition of additive medication.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the more detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning to the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the device of FIG. 1.

Turning to the drawings in greater detail, the holder comprises a generally cylindrical hollow tubular holder 10 having an open end 12 and a closed end 14. The cylindrical vial 16 has a resilient stopper 18 in its open end sealing on the inside walls of the via] 16. The stopper 18 generally, although not necessarily, has a thin imperforate central diaphragm portion. The stopper 18 is provided with an externally threaded projection 20 thereon. The tubular holder 10 has a needle 22 therein and a tip 24 on its exterior which tip is provided with a fluid passage 26 terminates in opening 28. The tip 24 has a first cylindrical zone 30, a second zone 32 which is tapered and a third cylindrical zone 34 having a smaller external diameter than zone 30.

Within the tubular holder 10, there is provided a thrust portion 36. The lower end of needle 22 communicates with the hole 38 in the closed end of the tubular holder 10. The upper end of needle 22 has a sharp terminal portion 40 having a hole 42 therein. The thrust portion 36 may also have internal threads 44 in proximity to its upper end, the threads on the projection 20 and the threads 44 being adapted when made up to cause said sharp terminal portion 40 of the needle to puncture said stopper 18. When the projection 20 is made up with threads 44, the stopper 18 functions as a piston to expel the contents of the vial 16 through needle 22 and passage 26 as said vial 16 is advanced into said tubular holder 10.

In operation, for intravenous use, the vial 16 containing liquid medication is partially made up with the holder 10 simply by turning the vial and the threads on projection into the threads 44. The tip 24 is theninserted in the part of a nebulizer 46 as is more fully hereinafter described. The threads are then further made up until the thread 20 on the stopper 18 are fully made up with threads 44. At this point, the sharp terminal portion 40 has punctured the stopper 18. By applying a slight further force on the vial, the vial can be advanced into the holder causing the stopper to expel the contents of the vial through the tip into the nebulizer 46.

The nebulizer, generally 46, has an air inlet 48, and an air outlet 50. The outlet 50 is connected to an airflow apparatus 52 having a regulatory flow valve 54. The air leaving at 56 is ducted to the patient. The airflow apparatus 52 is familiar to those skilled in the art, and need not be described in more elaborate detail.

The nebulizer 46 is provided with an air jet 58, a liquid capillary 60, and a dispersing ball 62. The liquid medication 64 enters the capillary 60 at opening 66. The high velocity air in jet 58 draws the liquid up the capillary to point 68 where a miniscus or drop starts to form. When the liquid particle has become sufficiently large, it is carried away by the jet stream and impacts ball 62 which breaks up the particle into finer particles. The finer particles are carried to the patient. The heavier particles collect on the ball 62 and the inside surfaces 70 of the nebulizer, and eventually return to the liquid pool 64. Additional air may be introduced at opening 72. This opening may, however, be closed off. Medication is introduced via port 74. The exterior of tapered zone 32 engages the interior of port 74 which prevents contaminated air from being drawn into and through the nebulizer. The zone 34 is smaller in external diameter than the internal diameter of port 74, and hence is receivable therein. The zone 30 is larger in external diameter than the internal diameter of port 74. Hence, a seal is formed on the tapered zone 32.

Having fully described the invention it is intended that it be limited only by the lawful scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A novel combination comprising a medicament injector comprising: a cylindrical vial having an open end and a closed end, a resilient plug adapted to be inserted at least partially through said open end of said vial; a plurality of outwardly extending rings upon said plug engaging the walls of said vial with a press fit; a cylindrical member having one closed end, said cylindrical member holding a needle extending inwardly into said cylindrical member and having a sharpened inner end; and said cylindrical member having a tip extending outwardly therefrom, said tip being an elongated member of generally circular cross-section and having a central fluid passage extending substantially the length of the tip, said central fluid passage being in fluid communication with said needle, said tip having three zones, the first of which is cylindrical, the second or intermediate which is tapered, and the third or outlet zone which is cylindrical but of smaller external diameter than said first zone, interlocking means on said cylindrical member and cooperating interlocking means on said plug, whereby upon interlocking of said plug with said cylindrical member said vial is first held in an assembled but non-operating position and upon further interlocking of said plug with said cylindrical member, said plug is adapted to be pierced by said sharpened inner end of said needle and said needle communicated with said vial without the application of substantial axial pressure on said plug and said plug is locked securely to said cylindrical member to permit aspiration upon withdrawal of said vial or to permit expulsion of the contents of said vial upon exertion of pressure on said vial through said tip; and a nebulizer comprising an air inlet, an air outlet adapted to lead to the patient, means for forcing air'through said nebulizer, means within nebulizer for evaporating and forming particles of liquid medicament for inhalation therapy in the air stream passing through said nebulizer and a medication introduction port opening into the interior of said nebulizer above the liquid medication level within said nebulizer, said tip being at least partially received in said port and contacting said port to form a seal therewith whereby liquid medication can be introduced into said nebulizer by the exertion of pressure on said vial.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the inside diameter of said port is slightly larger than the outside diameter of said third or outlet zone of said tip.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said first zone of said tip is larger in outside diameter than the inside diameter of said port whereby the tapered exterior of said second or intermediate zone of said tip acts as a stop which limits the axial advancement of said tip into said port and serves to close said port during expulsion of the contents of said vial into said nebulizer. 

1. A novel combination comprising a medicament injector comprising: a cylindrical vial having an open end and a closed end, a resilient plug adapted to be inserted at least partially through said open end of said vial; a plurality of outwardly extending rings upon said plug engaging the walls of said vial with a press fit; a cylindrical member having one closed end, said cylindrical member holding a needle extending inwardly into said cylindrical member and having a sharpened inner end; and said cylindrical member having a tip extending outwardly therefrom, said tip being an elongated member of generally circular cross-section and having a central fluid passage extending substantially the length of the tip, said central fluid passage beiNg in fluid communication with said needle, said tip having three zones, the first of which is cylindrical, the second or intermediate which is tapered, and the third or outlet zone which is cylindrical but of smaller external diameter than said first zone, interlocking means on said cylindrical member and cooperating interlocking means on said plug, whereby upon interlocking of said plug with said cylindrical member said vial is first held in an assembled but non-operating position and upon further interlocking of said plug with said cylindrical member, said plug is adapted to be pierced by said sharpened inner end of said needle and said needle communicated with said vial without the application of substantial axial pressure on said plug and said plug is locked securely to said cylindrical member to permit aspiration upon withdrawal of said vial or to permit expulsion of the contents of said vial upon exertion of pressure on said vial through said tip; and a nebulizer comprising an air inlet, an air outlet adapted to lead to the patient, means for forcing air through said nebulizer, means within nebulizer for evaporating and forming particles of liquid medicament for inhalation therapy in the air stream passing through said nebulizer and a medication introduction port opening into the interior of said nebulizer above the liquid medication level within said nebulizer, said tip being at least partially received in said port and contacting said port to form a seal therewith whereby liquid medication can be introduced into said nebulizer by the exertion of pressure on said vial.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the inside diameter of said port is slightly larger than the outside diameter of said third or outlet zone of said tip.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said first zone of said tip is larger in outside diameter than the inside diameter of said port whereby the tapered exterior of said second or intermediate zone of said tip acts as a stop which limits the axial advancement of said tip into said port and serves to close said port during expulsion of the contents of said vial into said nebulizer. 